Eyelash Application System

ABSTRACT

A single folding case that defines two recesses and retains all additional component parts for storage and transport. A first recess of the case is used to retain a mirror on the inner recess surface and provide a recess area for retained other internal component parts. The second recess retaining an applicator/tweezer like eyelash installation tool and rectangular drawer, and a semi-circular recess for retaining two semi-circular eyelash trays. The applicator/tweezer has a rounded proximal end and a two-pronged distal end. In use, a user would take the applicator/tweezer and secure both of the prongs located on the distal end and engage them with the eyelash cartridge. Once the applicator has eyelash cartridges attached, as user would then proceed to press the eyelash on at the desired location. The eyelash would then remain and be retained to the face by glue.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/516,691, entitled “Eyelash Application System”, filed on Jun. 8, 2017. The benefit under 35 USC § 119(e) of the U.S. provisional application is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/476,746 filed on Sep. 4, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,215,901 issued on Dec. 22, 2015, entitled “Eyelash application system”, filed on 6 Jun. 2016.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to systems and methods for personal care. More specifically, the present invention relates to systems and methods for personal care, more partially for handling, storing, and applying false eyelashes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People around the world use products to enhance their appearance. All forms of cosmetics are used in the fashion, medical, and entertainment industries. False eyelashes and eyelash extensions are a commonly used technique for enhancing or augmenting the appearance of the eye.

Current methods for applying, storing, and handling false eyelashes present many problems that range from deleterious health consequences to difficulty in handling requiring a high degree of skill. Health consequences can result from the false eyelashes coming into contact with bacteria or other contagion eventually infecting the eye. This can happen when tools are improperly used or sanitized. This can also happen when an adhesive is applied in an unsanitary way.

Difficulty in applying false eyelashes can result from the awkward use of a delicate tweezer or even from attempting to apply the false eyelash with the naked finger tips. It is common for the false eyelash to be applied further from the base of the real eyelash than desirable, or with too much glue or adhesive.

Solutions have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions that provide a comprehensive answer to these difficulties, and solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art. Thus there remains a considerable need for devices and methods that allow the application of false eyelashes in an easy intuitive way with minimal expertise or experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is comprised of the following component parts. A single folding case that defines two recesses and retains all additional component parts for storage and transport. A first recess of the case is used to retain a mirror on the inner recess surface and provide a recess area for retained other internal component parts. A second recess of the case is used to retain the additional component parts for storage, travel, and usage.

The second recess creates two internal recesses for retaining component parts, a rectangular recess for retaining an applicator/tweezer like eyelash installation tool and rectangular drawer, and a semi-circular recess for retaining two semi-circular eyelash trays

The applicator/tweezer is shown having a rounded proximal end and a two-pronged distal end. The proximal end is the end that is closer to a user's wrist during operation while the distal end is the end that is closer to a user's eye during operation. The proximal end can be formed with a smaller cross-section than the distal end for greater mobility in the hand so that the distal end can be held in a number of different positions within the hand.

The proximal end is defined by the rounded portion and is connected to the distal end by a rigid member. This rigid member can be further defined by concave, semi-circular sections providing finger grips for squeezing the applicator as/if necessary or just providing a solid, no-slip location for positioning the fingers.

It has been discovered that providing the distal end having a large width and surface to handle reduces the skill requirement for use. The large width and surface allows the applicator to be used by users with a lesser dexterity and allows users to fix multiple fingers along with the thumb on the applicator during used and utilize the larger muscles of the arm and wrist allowing for greater controllability and stability which can result in safer and more precise operation.

In use, a user would take the applicator/tweezer and secure both of the prongs located on the distal end and engage them with the eyelash cartridge. Once the applicator has one or two eyelash cartridges with eyelashes attached, as user would then proceed to press the eyelash on at the desired location. The eyelash would then remain and be retained to the face by glue, and the used eyelash cartridge can be discarded or a new eyelash applied for later use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.

FIGS. 1-3 are engineering diagrams illustrating the system of the present invention and component parts.

FIG. 4 is an exploded diagram of the system and component parts of the present invention illustrating how all the parts are assembled.

FIG. 5 illustrates the assembled system and component parts of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates the assembled system and component parts of the present invention with an extra pair of replacement eyelash inserts.

FIG. 7 illustrates the present invention in a case closed position.

FIG. 8 illustrates a pair of eyelashes, one component used as part of the system of the present invention.

FIGS. 9-10 illustrate a pair of tweezers and components used as part of the system of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the invention of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings (where like numbers represent like elements), which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, but other embodiments may be utilized and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

In the following description, specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it is understood that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Referring to the figure, it is possible to see the various major elements constituting the apparatus of the present invention.

The eyelash application system is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the eyelash application system and provide numerous specific details to give a thorough understanding of the eyelash application system; however, it will be apparent that the eyelash application system may be practiced without these specific details.

In order to avoid obscuring the eyelash application system, some well-known system configurations are not disclosed in detail. Likewise, the drawings showing embodiments of the system are semi-diagrammatic and not to scale and, particularly, some of the dimensions are for the clarity of presentation and are shown greatly exaggerated in the drawing figures. Generally, the eyelash application system can be operated in any orientation.

For expository purposes, the term “horizontal” as used herein is defined as a plane parallel to the bottom plane or bottom surface of the cartridge, regardless of its orientation. The term “vertical” refers to a direction perpendicular to the horizontal as just defined. Terms, such as “above”, “below”, “bottom”, “top”, “side”, “higher”, “lower”, “upper”, “over”, and “under”, are defined with respect to the horizontal plane. The term “system” means an apparatus or a method based on the context in which it is used.

Now referring to FIGS. 1-3, one embodiment of the eyelash application system is shown. FIG. 3 is an exploded diagram of the system and component parts of the present invention illustrating how all the parts are assembled.

The present invention is comprised of the following component parts. A single folding case 4 that defines two recesses and retains all additional component parts for storage and transport. A first recess of the case is used to retain a mirror 3 on the inner recess surface and provide a recess area for retained other internal component parts. A second recess of the case is used to retain the additional component parts for storage, travel, and usage.

The second recess creates two internal recesses for retaining component parts, a rectangular recess for retaining an applicator/tweezer like eyelash installation tool 1 and rectangular drawer 2, and a semi-circular recess for retaining two semi-circular eyelash trays 5 and 6.

When assembled, the two semi-circular eyelash trays 5 and 6 sit on top of each other. The eyelash trays 5 and 6 can hold a plurality of eyelash cartridges 7 and 8. In the figures, the eyelash trays 5 and 6 are illustrated holding six eyelash cartridges 5 and four eyelash cartridges 6 in different embodiments.

It would be recognized by a person of ordinary skill in the art that each tray 5 and 6 could hold any number of eyelash cartridges 7 and 8, and that the number and size of the eyelash cartridges 7 and 8 will vary based on the size of the eyelashes 9 place and retained by the eyelash cartridge 7 and 8. The drawings are illustrative only for the most common sizes and combinations of lashes 9, but the size and number of cartridges 7 and 8 is intended to vary.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, two applicator/tweezer devices are shown 1 and 13 in more detail. The applicator/tweezer 1 is shown having a rounded proximal end 14 and a two-pronged distal end 15. The proximal end 14 is the end that is closer to a user's wrist during operation while the distal end 15 is the end that is closer to a user's eye during operation. The proximal end 14 can be formed with a smaller cross-section than the distal end 15 for greater mobility in the hand so that the distal end 15 can be held in a number of different positions within the hand.

The proximal end 14 is defined by the rounded portion and is connected to the distal end 15 by a rigid member 16. This rigid member 16 can be further defined by concave, semi-circular sections 10 and 11 providing finger grips for squeezing the applicator/tweezer 1 as/if necessary or just providing a solid, no-slip location for positioning the fingers.

It has been discovered that providing the distal end 15 having a large width and surface to handle reduces the skill requirement for use. The large width and surface allows the applicator 1 to be used by users with a lesser dexterity and allows users to fix multiple fingers along with the thumb on the applicator/tweezer 1 during use and utilize the larger muscles of the arm and wrist allowing for greater controllability and stability which can result in safer and more precise operation.

In use, a user would take the applicator/tweezer 1 and secure both of the prongs located on the distal end 15 and engage them with the eyelash cartridge 7 shown in FIG. 8. Once the applicator/tweezer 1 has one or two eyelash cartridges 7 and 8 with eyelashes 9 attached, as user would then proceed to press the eyelash on at the desired location. The eyelash 9 and 17 would then remain and be retained to the face by glue, and the used eyelash cartridge 7 can be discarded or a new eyelash 9 applied for later use.

In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the distal end 15 and proximal end 14 are connected by a pivoting or rotating joint 12 that allows the distal end 15 to rotate in a positive or negative 90 degree manner with respect to the proximal end 14. The rotation between the two ends can be greater than, less than, or equal to 90 degrees depending on the structure and shape of the ends or simply limited by placing or adding rotations stop blocks that will not allow the two component ends parts to be rotate more than a fixed amount of degrees as desired during manufacture.

In use, a user would place their fingers around the rotating joint, use their opposing hand to rotate the distal end 15 with respect to the proximal end 14. Once the distal end 15 is rotate, the user can still squeeze the two side of the rotating hinge or pivot point 12 and the applicator/tweezer 1 will still work in the same manner as the non-rotatable embodiment where squeezing still results in the movement of the prongs of the distal end 15 away and toward each other.

Referring now to FIG. 8, therein is shown a perspective top view of a two eyelash cartridges 7 and 8 for an embodiment of the eyelash application system. Each eyelash cartridge 7 and 8 is shown loaded with an eyelash strip 9 and 17.

The cartridge 7 and 8 includes an open interior section 18 so that a user may grasp the eyelash cartridge 7 and 8 with ease by inserting one of the prongs of the applicator/tweezer 1 into the open interior 18 of the eyelash cartridge 7 and 8.

The seat 19 of the cartridge provides a platform for the eyelash strip 9 and 17 to be mounted and stored. The seat 19 can be curved with a smaller diameter than the eyelash strip 9 and 17 allowing the eyelash strip 9 and 17 to overhang the seat.

The eyelash strip 9 and 17 can include lashes, a band, and an adhesive. The lashes can be mounted to the band and extend out away from the band. The lashes can fan out radially and be curved upward from a plane defined by the band.

The band can be in direct contact with the adhesive. The adhesive can cover the entire band and extend beyond the ends of the band. It has been discovered that it is advantageous to not require a user to manually apply the adhesive because it is easy for a user to apply more than required or to allow the adhesive to contact an unsanitary surface. Providing the adhesive already applied therefore increases uniformity of the adhesive as well as ensuring a non-infectious adhesive is used.

The eyelash strip 9 and 17 can be provided on the eyelash cartridge 7 and 8 as a one quarter, two thirds, or a full eyelash strip. In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the eyelash strip 9 and 17 can be formed as a quarter or two thirds strip negating the need for a user to trim the eyelash strip 9 and 17.

The cartridge 7 and 8 is depicted as having cartridge mating structures. The cartridge mating structures can be formed as recesses 18 as illustrated, protrusions, or a combination thereof. In the present invention and figures, the cartridge mating surface is a recess 18 that is configured to mirror the pronged protrusion of the applicator/tweezer 1 and to be joined or fitted to the applicator/tweezer mating structures, one of the prongs. That is when one of the applicator/tweezer mating structures is a protrusion or prong that narrows toward the proximal end 14, the corresponding cartridge mating structures will be a recess 18 that also narrows toward the proximal end 18 of the applicator/tweezer 1.

It is contemplated that the cartridge mating structures as well as the applicator mating structures can taper toward or away from the proximal end 14. It is further contemplated that the cartridge mating structures as well as the applicator/tweezer mating structures can have no taper toward or away from the proximal end.

The applicator mating structures or prongs are configured to interlock with the cartridge mating structures or recesses where both the cartridge mating structures and the applicator mating structures have surfaces that are in continuous direct contact. It is contemplated that the applicator mating structures can deform into or around the cartridge mating structures and provide a click when the applicator mating structures or prong is fully engaged with the cartridge mating structures or recesses.

It has been discovered that utilizing the applicator/tweezer mating structures interlocking with the eyelash cartridge mating structures, the eyelash strip can be locked in to an exacting position with regard to the applicator/tweezer and enables users to more quickly and intuitively apply the eyelash strip.

During application, the eyelash strip has the adhesive in direct contact with a base of the user's eyelid. The adhesive directly couples the base with the band holding the lashes.

Two ways of applying the eyelash strip are possible including one method applying the eyelash strip above the eyelash of the user. The other method includes applying the eyelash strip 4 below the eyelash of the user. When the eyelash strip is attached below the eyelash of the user, the band and the adhesive are not visible.

Thus, it is appreciated that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variation in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the above description are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Furthermore, other areas of art may benefit from this method and adjustments to the design are anticipated. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. An eyelash application device comprising: a cartridge having a top surface for retaining an eyelash strip and an open recess acting as an eyelash cartridge mating structure; an eyelash strip attached to the seat of the eyelash cartridge; and an applicator/tweezer having a distal and proximal end, the distal end defined as having one or more prongs acting as an eyelash cartridge mating structure; the proximal end is defined by a rounded portion and is connected to the distal end by a rigid member; and the rigid member can be further defined by concave, semi-circular sections providing finger grips for squeezing the applicator as/if necessary or just providing a solid, no-slip location for positioning the fingers.
 2. The eyelash application device of claim 1, wherein the eyelash strip is attached to the seat of the eyelash cartridge with an adhesive.
 3. The eyelash application device of claim 1, wherein the eyelash cartridge is made of a pliable material.
 4. The eyelash application device of claim 1, wherein the eyelash strip overhangs the seat.
 5. The eyelash application device of claim 1, wherein the eyelash strip includes a lash that curves toward the clip.
 6. The eyelash application device of claim 1, wherein between the a distal and proximal end of the applicator/tweezer, a rotating joint is provided allowing the one or more prongs acting as an eyelash cartridge mating structure to rotate.
 7. The eyelash application device of claim 7, wherein rotating the distal end with respect to the proximal ends allows the applicator/tweezer to be held and used at a varying angle with respect to curing the lash toward the face for attachment.
 8. A method of manufacturing an eyelash application system comprising: providing an eyelash cartridge; attaching an eyelash strip to the eyelash cartridge; and attaching an applicator to the eyelash cartridge, each having a mating structure configured to interlock with the other.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein attaching the eyelash strip includes attaching the eyelash strip with an adhesive to the seat of the cartridge.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein attaching the eyelash strip includes attaching the eyelash strip to the seat and overhanging the seat. 